Senior Software Engineer, Tactical Applications

About the Role

The Senior Software Engineer will join the Tactical Applications team to develop mission‑critical Ground Control Station (GCS) software for unmanned aerial systems. Working remotely or from San Diego, the role collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to build robust, intuitive, and secure applications that support real defense missions using modern C++ and the Qt framework. • Design, develop, and maintain the GCS software suite using Qt 6/Qt Quick/QML and modern C++. • Build cross‑platform Qt applications for Windows, Linux, and Android, including CI/CD and deployment pipelines. • Extend open‑source GCS frameworks (e.g., QGroundControl) while ensuring modular and clear code. • Interface with real‑time telemetry and C2 protocols (MAVLink 2, STANAG 4586, Link 16, Cursor‑on‑Target) via Qt networking components. • Collaborate with avionics, autonomy, and payload teams to visualize live sensor data using Qt Charts, Location, Multimedia, and 3D frameworks. • Own the full software development lifecycle: requirements, architecture, implementation, testing, release, and field deployment. • Iterate UI/UX based on operator feedback and meet MIL‑STD security and reliability standards. • Produce clear documentation, interface specifications, and training materials; mentor junior engineers and enforce code quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸qt development
• ▸cross‑platform
• ▸ci/cd
• ▸telemetry integration
• ▸ui/ux design
• ▸mentorship

What You Bring

This position is remote‑designated but welcomes applicants local to San Diego or willing to relocate, and may require up to 10% travel for team collaboration, field testing, or customer support. • 5+ years delivering Qt‑based applications in C++14/17, with 3+ years on real‑time or mission‑critical systems. • Deep expertise in Qt (Quick/QML, Widgets, Charts, Multimedia) and design patterns such as MVVM or MVC. • Proven cross‑platform experience on Linux (CMake, AppImage, systemd), Windows (MSVC/MinGW, MSI/MSIX), and Android (Qt for Android, Gradle, JNI). • Strong integration of C++ backend logic with QML front‑ends and performance optimization for CPU/GPU‑limited environments. • Proficient in networking and asynchronous programming (TCP/UDP, REST, WebSockets) within Qt. • Knowledge of secure coding practices and libraries (OpenSSL, libsodium) for secure‑by‑default system design. • Excellent problem‑solving and communication skills; ability to work autonomously and collaborate across teams. • U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. • Experience extending QGroundControl with custom plugins for new vehicle types or mission profiles. • Expertise in embedded Yocto targets and constrained environments. • Familiarity with UAS communication protocols such as MAVLink, STANAG 4586, OMNI, Link 16, and Cursor‑on‑Target. • Knowledge of Qt test automation (Squish) and CI/CD integration using tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI. • Ability to mentor developers, lead code reviews, and enforce modern C++ best practices (Clang‑Tidy, Valgrind, Sanitizers).

Requirements

• ▸qt
• ▸c++
• ▸yocto
• ▸mavlink
• ▸jenkins
• ▸u.s. citizenship

Benefits

Compensation includes a US salary range of $140,000 to $178,000, adjusted for experience, education, location, and other compensation factors. Firestorm offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, unlimited PTO, a generous holiday calendar, parental leave, various supplemental insurances, and 24/7 mental health resources along with legal and financial support services. • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans. • 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contributions. • Unlimited paid time off and an extensive holiday calendar, including a December hiatus. • Generous parental leave, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), and supplemental insurance options. • 24/7 free mental health resources, plus additional work‑life services such as legal and financial support.

Work Environment

Remote